Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium africanum: Knowns and unknowns.

Tuberculosis (TB), one of the deadliest threats to human health, is mainly caused by 2 highly related and human-adapted bacteria broadly known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium africanum. Whereas M. tuberculosis is widely spread, M. africanum is restricted to West Africa, where it rema...

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Main Authors: Marta L Silva, Baltazar Cá, Nuno S Osório, Pedro N S Rodrigues, Ana Raquel Maceiras, Margarida Saraiva
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2022-05-01
Series:PLoS Pathogens
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1010490
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author Marta L Silva
Baltazar Cá
Nuno S Osório
Pedro N S Rodrigues
Ana Raquel Maceiras
Margarida Saraiva
author_facet Marta L Silva
Baltazar Cá
Nuno S Osório
Pedro N S Rodrigues
Ana Raquel Maceiras
Margarida Saraiva
author_sort Marta L Silva
collection DOAJ
description Tuberculosis (TB), one of the deadliest threats to human health, is mainly caused by 2 highly related and human-adapted bacteria broadly known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium africanum. Whereas M. tuberculosis is widely spread, M. africanum is restricted to West Africa, where it remains a significant cause of tuberculosis. Although several differences have been identified between these 2 pathogens, M. africanum remains a lot less studied than M. tuberculosis. Here, we discuss the genetic, phenotypic, and clinical similarities and differences between strains of M. tuberculosis and M. africanum. We also discuss our current knowledge on the immune response to M. africanum and how it possibly articulates with distinct disease progression and with the geographical restriction attributed to this pathogen. Understanding the functional impact of the diversity existing in TB-causing bacteria, as well as incorporating this diversity in TB research, will contribute to the development of better, more specific approaches to tackle TB.
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spelling doaj.art-e2c381f1afa3407ea8084d8367e7395c2022-12-22T01:52:59ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Pathogens1553-73661553-73742022-05-01185e101049010.1371/journal.ppat.1010490Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium africanum: Knowns and unknowns.Marta L SilvaBaltazar CáNuno S OsórioPedro N S RodriguesAna Raquel MaceirasMargarida SaraivaTuberculosis (TB), one of the deadliest threats to human health, is mainly caused by 2 highly related and human-adapted bacteria broadly known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium africanum. Whereas M. tuberculosis is widely spread, M. africanum is restricted to West Africa, where it remains a significant cause of tuberculosis. Although several differences have been identified between these 2 pathogens, M. africanum remains a lot less studied than M. tuberculosis. Here, we discuss the genetic, phenotypic, and clinical similarities and differences between strains of M. tuberculosis and M. africanum. We also discuss our current knowledge on the immune response to M. africanum and how it possibly articulates with distinct disease progression and with the geographical restriction attributed to this pathogen. Understanding the functional impact of the diversity existing in TB-causing bacteria, as well as incorporating this diversity in TB research, will contribute to the development of better, more specific approaches to tackle TB.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1010490
spellingShingle Marta L Silva
Baltazar Cá
Nuno S Osório
Pedro N S Rodrigues
Ana Raquel Maceiras
Margarida Saraiva
Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium africanum: Knowns and unknowns.
PLoS Pathogens
title Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium africanum: Knowns and unknowns.
title_full Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium africanum: Knowns and unknowns.
title_fullStr Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium africanum: Knowns and unknowns.
title_full_unstemmed Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium africanum: Knowns and unknowns.
title_short Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium africanum: Knowns and unknowns.
title_sort tuberculosis caused by mycobacterium africanum knowns and unknowns
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1010490
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